Arsenal go into their Premier League match with Hull City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday without as many as 11 senior players through injury and suspension.
Arsene Wenger's injury problems worsened during the international break as German record signing Mesut Ozil was ruled out for three months with a knee problem.
The £42m World Cup winner joins the likes of Olivier Giroud, Mathieu Debuchy, Aaron Ramsey and Tomas Rosicky on the sidelines, and already the depth of the Gunners squad is being tested at this stage of the season.
Wenger has admitted that he plans to sign a defender in January to help with Arsenal's shortage in that area, with West Ham United's Winston Reid and Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels believed to be targets.
Hull boss Steve Bruce is unlikely to be busy in the winter having recruited shrewdly in the last window, and Mohamed Diame is settling in particularly well, having scored three goals in four games since his arrival.
The former West Ham United midfielder helped his new club to a first win since the opening day of the season against Crystal Palace a fortnight ago, but consecutive victories appear unlikely for the Tigers, who have not beaten Arsenal since a shock triumph in their inaugural Premier League campaign.
The visitors could name the same side which took maximum points against Palace, a result which took them to 11th in the table - only one point behind eighth-placed Arsenal, for their trip to the capital.
With Robert Snodgrass and Alan McGregor both still out, and Ahmed Elmohamady having overcome the knock that he sustained last time out, the only thing which may tempt Bruce into making changes is the consideration of fatigue following international excursions.
Andrew Robertson and James Chester were involved heavily for Scotland and Wales respectively, and so the fresher legs of Liam Rosenior and Alex Bruce may benefit a team who are likely to surrender possession for long spells.
His packed treatment room means that Wenger does not have the same luxury, but Laurent Koscielny, who pulled out of France's midweek friendly, and Mikel Arteta should be fit to boost his depleted ranks.
A Premier League debut awaits 19-year-old right-back Hector Bellerin as Calum Chambers serves a suspension, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should be recalled to fill the void left by Ozil in attacking midfield.
Theo Walcott is closing in on a return for the Gunners, who lost 2-0 to Chelsea a fortnight ago as Wenger clashed with Jose Mourinho on the touchline, but may not be ready until the end of the month.
Recent form
Arsenal: LWDLWL
Hull: WLLDDL
Possible starting lineups
Arsenal: Szczesny; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Wilshere; Sanchez, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Welbeck
Hull: Harper; Chester, Dawson, Davies; Elmohamady, Huddlestone, Livermore, Diame, Rosenior; Hernandez, Jelavic
Sports Mole says: 2-0
Joe Fish
